Talking With Your Pharmacist

Background Multiple meds & comorbidities increase with age Adults 60 and older have an average of four chronic conditions with multiple medications As the number of medications increases, so does risk of adverse drug effects and management problems

Med Coordination Partners Needed! Medication coordination gaps between providers Older adults are the most underused resource Program is needed to enhance older adults’ medication communication and management skills

UW School of Pharmacy Project Encouraged by the Community-Academic Aging Research Network (CAARN) Jane Mahoney and Jill Ballard Med-Wise Project Co-Directors Beth Martin and Betty Chewning, UW School of Pharmacy Together designed the Med Wise Program

Wisconsin is lucky…and proud State law requires consultation on ALL prescriptions (new and refill) Pharmacists are accessible Pharmacist networks for quality care Pharmacies offer MTM services… including immunizations, CMRs

Med Wise Program Goals To increase older adults’ ability to manage their medications safely To improve older adults’ skills to talk with their pharmacists (and other providers) about their medications

Med Wise Program 3 group sessions to improve patient communication and role played asking their questions with pharmacists! Identify risks and benefits with medication use; pharmacists’ role & why updated medication list is key Reinforce importance of own questions, ways to ask key questions, understand how to fit into schedule

Med Wise Program Was Piloted Collaboration between UW School of Pharmacy & Portage County ADRC with Director, Janet Zander Conducted 1 round of 3 classes with 7 older adults In the dead of winter and still they came!

Summary of Key Points Try to simplify your regimen schedule with the help of your pharmacist and Med Chart. For new medicines, ask 3 “magic” questions 3 P’s For refills, tell your pharmacist about changes in symptoms and medicines in the past month. Bring questions. Talk to your pharmacist.

We Learned So Much! Thank you Janet! Branding, publicizing and recruiting Shorten to 2 sessions and make 1.5 hours Change the name from “Engaging” to “Talking To” Important to have the pharmacist there for role plays

What Did Preliminary Data Suggest? (N=7) Pre-post surveys suggested that people increased: Knowledge about pharmacists’ roles and laws Belief in carrying updated medication list Belief in using the pharmacist for medication questions Perceived likelihood they would interact more actively: Ask the RPh questions even when not asked Express their opinions when they disagree with the RPh Routinely ask a pharmacist questions Ask for more information until satisfied with answer Ask even when RPh & patient were busy

Next Steps Two of the participants have undergone training to offer the program; intend to train others from counties Wrote a Baldwin grant proposal and just received word that we were funded Collaboration between ADRC’s and CAARN Adams, Calumet, Green Lake, Marquette, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara 2 year funding begins July 1 Goal to enroll 300 older adults in the 2 years

Bridging The Gaps Together